GENE WOOD: It's time for the "Family Feud." Introducing the Johnson family...

RAZ: The actor and original host of "Family Feud" has died.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FAMILY FEUD")

WOOD: And now, here is the star of the "Family Feud," Richard Dawson.

RAZ: Richard Dawson hosted the show for nearly 10 years up until 1985.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FAMILY FEUD")

RICHARD DAWSON: Help me welcome the champs, the Johnson family.

RAZ: He was an affable showman. He was known for kissing his female contestants.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FAMILY FEUD")

DAWSON: Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: OK.

DAWSON: Good luck. Oh, this is for luck.

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #1: Oh. Thank you.

RAZ: He said in an interview years later he began kissing contestants after a nervous young girl clammed up on the show on the question: name a green vegetable you can eat raw.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVE OF AMERICAN TELEVISION INTERVIEW)

DAWSON: I said, I'm going to do something that my mom would do to me whenever I had a problem of any kind. And I went like this, and I kissed her on the cheek. I said: That's for luck. And she said: Asparagus.

RAZ: It worked sometimes.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FAMILY FEUD")

DAWSON: Fifteen seconds please. During what months of pregnancy does a woman begin to look pregnant?

UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #2: September.

DAWSON: Something - oh.

(LAUGHTER)

RAZ: Dawson was also known for his role as Corporal Newkirk on the CBS comedy "Hogan's Heroes." He died Saturday night in Los Angeles after battling cancer. He was 79.